The Maori people call New Zealand Aotearoa, which means “land of the long” white cloud and it sounds mysterious and wonderful. It’s comprised of two main islands – North and South Island, along with a group of smaller islands scattered in the Pacific Ocean. Visit the country and let its beautiful nature, happy people and exciting history enchant you. The article will provide you with some tips for New Zealand.
The largest city in South Island is Christchurch. You can take the cable car to Port Hills and enjoy the spectacular view of the mountainous landscape and the snow-capped hills. Below, in the city, you can visit alternative street art monuments that are on display. Give in to the vibe of the most English city outside England that boasts numerous Gothic buildings.
Mt. Cook/Aoraki is New Zealand’s highest peak. The area’s national park was named after it. It’s listed as part of the world heritage and encompasses more than 70,000 hectares of gorgeous mountain landscape. Enjoy mountain biking and hiking, or simply admire the tall mountains that are reflected in the mountain lakes. During the night, you can admire the night sky as this is where you can find the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. The best accommodation for travellers is the new YHA Tekapo hostel on the shores of Lake Tekapo up in the mountains. The hostel’s special characteristic are its glass windows which allow you to gaze at the lake and the surrounding mountains. It was built by taking into account the natural and cultural heritage of its environment. It’s environmentally friendly as it obtains energy using solar water heating and photovoltaics.
To the south lies Dunedin, Edinburgh of the south. Explore this Victorian city that combines its Scottish roots with elegant architecture. Its main attraction is Larnach Castle, New Zealand’s only castle with award-winning gardens. Now it’s time to move on to the land’s interior. My travel advice is to head to Fiordland National Park and admire the rich agricultural land along the way. The park’s main attraction is Milford Sound, a fjord surrounded by tall peaks and lush rainforest. Take time to observe nature, especially the majestic waterfalls. You can best experience the fjord by taking a boat tour. Another beautiful fjord is Doubtful Sound where you can meet dolphins or seals. And don’t forget to visit Queenstown with its attractions, the world capital of extreme sports. Why not make your first adventure the boat tour in Lake Wakatipu where you can enjoy the view of the amazing landscape, including Mt. Nicholas. If you’re more into extreme sports, you can combine the boat tour with an adrenaline rush through the rapids in the narrow channels of the Shotover river. Stop at Lake Hayes and visit the historic town of Arrowtown. And now it’s time for glaciers. You can admire two of them – Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the western coast. Take the famous picturesque TranzAlpine train ride, one of the world’s most scenic train rides. It will take you across the Southern Alps over viaducts, river valleys and gorges all the way to Christchurch.
On the other side of the island, in the north, is the Marlborough Sounds fjord. Exploring this fjord will take you to hidden coves, among historical places and natural reserves. There’s also another wonderful piece of land in on the northern coast, namely Abel Tasman National Park that is perfect for sailing or kayaking and offers plenty of opportunities for watching dolphins and seals frequently play in the coastal waters. My piece of advice is to go sailing first and then go hiking. On the western coast you can find the Hokitika gorge, a true paradise for travellers. The water there is turquoise and the walls are covered in native bushes. The city of Hokitika, bearing the same name as the gorge, is also full of attractions and it’s a place where you can listen to stories of shipwrecks and prospectors.
All bird lovers must visit Stewart Island, the home to the most numerous and diverse bird population in the country. You can encounter all kinds of birds, from albatrosses to penguins and even the famous kiwis. You’ll also be greeted by many beaches and rainforests.
North Island is smaller than its neighbour, South Island. The climate here is warmer and the mountains are smaller. This is where you’ll find New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, famous for excellent food and drinks. The capital was even chosen as one of the cities where you can get the best coffee. The best view of the city can be experienced on Mount Victoria. If you want to find just how unique New Zealand is and discover more stories of nature and the people, then head to the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.
The island’s interior is composed of volcanic mountains reaching up to 1,000m high with active volcanoes and hot springs. You can visit the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, a geothermal area full of hot springs with quite interesting names. You should come early in the morning to witness the eruption of Lady Knox geyser. Nearby, you can find Lake Taupo, which is where New Zealand’s longest lake, the Waikato, drains into. The surrounding landscape is full of waterfalls, the mightiest of which is the Huka waterfall.
For all the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit films, a visit to the Hobbiton is a must and it’s located in the verdant landscape in Waikato, not far from the town of Matamata. Visit the homes of the hobbits and try out their beer. You can explore the most beautiful beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. The most famous of among them is Cathedral Cove with its incredible limestone arch. Travellers will also enjoy exploring the Maori culture and history in Rotorua. You can also go on a tour of the most popular archaeological place in the country, Te Wairoa, a village that was buried under ash by the volcano in 1886. The museum clearly depicts the suffering of the local community. If you like caves, then you should definitely explore the limestone Waitomo caves that are full of gorgeous cave formations. You can visit the caves on foot, by boat or by raft.
You can find the Poor Knights islands by the eastern coast. This coast is also home to caves, natural bridges, cliffs and tunnels. All this makes one want to explore, so my last piece of travel advice if you plan on visiting New Zealand is to go scuba diving in the waters around the islands.
Enjoy while exploring New Zealand and don’t forget to send postcards with MyPostcard. All HI members get 25% off. New users can send their first postcard for free with the HIGlobetrotter promo code through the Globetrotter profile. You can read more about it here.
Wherever you go, your trip can be safe, with simple and customisable international travel insurance for solo travellers and families. Get travel insurance through World Nomads and get a policy with 24-hour assistance and transport for medical emergencies, as well as cover for more than 220 sports and leisure activities on snow, water, air and land. The insurance policy may include, among other things, coverage for experiential activities, such as au pairs – part-time or voluntary work with children, working in a bar, fruit picking, office work, teaching and some other work abroad. Protect yourself or your family with World Nomads travel insurance.
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